Colombo

Somerset Maugham set sail for British Burma in 1923 expecting tigers, pythons, headhunters, and strange exotic fruits; instead, he found a power hierarchy tottering under the weight of self-importance.

The tiny island of Sri Lanka has endured a lot, both in the past and in recent memory. Torn apart by civil war and a devastating tsunami, this strong and determined little country has fought its way through the hard times and come out on the other side not only with its beauty and culture intact, but also with its eyes on bigger rewards.